OC Auditor Controller Eric Woolery leads a coalition of 44 auditor controllers from across California, demanding the ability to hire their own lawyers when they detect fraud, waste or abuse from local elected officials. Action comes just as OC Supervisors are poised today to water down 1994 bankruptcy-era reform requiring public review for borrowings.
Category: Norberto Santana Jr.
Columns by Norberto Santana Jr., Voice of OC’s publisher, on Orange County government, public records and the habits of the people who run the county. He has written this column since the newsroom started.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Is This The Year OC Vets Finally Get Their Own Cemetery?
There are state and federal designations backing a site on the former El Toro Marine Air Base but no clear path to fund the $77 million construction cost. This Tuesday, Irvine City Councilman Jeff Lalloway and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk Silva jumpstart a stalled debate, advocating a plan to have the city fund more than half.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Voice of OC Gets a New Look
Voice of OC today debuts a new logo and website design. Yet while there’s a new look, there’s still the same commitment to local government coverage.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Justice Often Depends on The Bare Essentials
Voice of OC again heads into court this week in a First Amendment case against the County of Orange over secret documents held by county supervisors. Yet a cutback on hours for OC court reporters by the Superior Court of Orange County last week delayed justice. Proceedings resume on Tuesday.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Can Local Government Operate in Total Secrecy?
This week, the nation celebrates Sunshine Week, an annual event recognizing the need for more open government and access to public records. Here in Orange County, Voice of OC marks the holiday in court. On Tuesday, a yearlong battle to get public records about a bizarre incident – involving a county supervisor, an evangelist, a gun and handcuffs – goes to trial.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Respect For Human Rights is a Local Story
Watching State Sen. Janet Nguyen get dragged out of a California Senate chamber is a stark reminder that too often, after the trade deals are done and history has been rewritten, our ideals take a quiet back seat to profit. Here in OC, groups like the Protocol Foundation deserve constant scrutiny to see what foreign interests are visiting our local government.
Posted inAnaheim, Norberto Santana Jr., Safety, Security & Justice
Santana: Will Anaheim Invest in Youth & Police Oversight Before It’s Too Late?
Expect a packed hall at this week’s city council meeting in Anaheim, where once again, a police shooting will dominate the agenda. Yet this week, the very structure for reviewing such incidents, the Public Safety Board, is itself up for review.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: People Are The Future of Civics & News
Whether it’s ensuring thoughtful evacuation of riverbed homeless encampments or switching out fueling contracts at John Wayne Airport, Orange County residents are increasingly challenging their government to be accountable, often on the front pages of Voice of OC. National media leaders and foundations, looking for models of civic engagement, are looking to Orange County.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Is the Fix in at John Wayne Airport?
A nasty fight over a fuel contract at John Wayne Airport could get even nastier today as county supervisors engage in a last-minute agenda scramble to re-approve a contract for a low-ranked bidder amidst calls for a federal probe into the process.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Is Throwing Rocks the New Homeless Response in OC?
Last week county work crews pushed rocks in the way of a homeless tent city near Angels Stadium between the Santa Ana riverbed and the 57 freeway, prompting public protests, an ACLU lawsuit and numerous civic actions.
